Kit for modifying a trash can or refuse container

ABSTRACT

A kit for modifying a trash receptacle or rubbish container which generally receives a plastic bag for a liner so as to facilitate the removal and release of the plastic liner containing the rubbish from the trash can when the plastic bag is full. The kit includes a determinable number of sleeves defining air passageways and an adhesive element for attaching each sleeve to an inner sidewall of a container or receptacle to alleviate suction between the wall of the receptacle and the plastic bag liner.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a kit for modifying a trash receptacleor rubbish container which generally receives a plastic bag for a linerso as to facilitate the removal and release of the plastic linercontaining the rubbish from the trash can when the plastic bag is full.More specifically, the kit includes a determinable number of sleeves andan adhesive element for attaching each sleeve to an inner sidewall of acontainer or receptacle to alleviate suction between the wall of thereceptacle and the plastic bag liner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plastic trash can liners are commonly known and used in domestic andcommercial applications to facilitate the containment and handling ofrefuse which is placed into a trash receptacle or container. Althoughthey present the advantages of being moisture-proof, sealable to preventthe escape of malodorous emanations and less expensive, the plastic filmtrash liners are so flexible that they are structurally incapable ofsupporting themselves in an upright and open position when empty. As aresult, the trash liner must be contained within a support structure.Because the liner is so thin, the support structure must not presentpuncture points which might penetrate the liner.

The liners are often used in receptacles with a volume of 1-20 gallonsor more. If the liner is filled to a density of even 10 lbs/ft 3 (aboutone-sixth the density of water), the liner could weigh up to 27 lbs.When fully expanded within the receptacle, the trash liner will contouritself closely to the interior surface of the receptacle. As the lineris removed from the receptacle, the close fit around the interiorcircumference is so good that, unless there are internal structures inthe receptacle to allow air flow past the receptacle-liner interface,the liner will act as a piston within a cylinder and the vacuum createdbetween the trash liner and the receptacle will increase the difficultyin removing the liner. In addition to increasing the difficulty ofremoval, this increases the probability of tearing the thin liner walls.

A vacuum seal is created between the trash can and the liner because ofthe inability for air to replace the volume being removed from the trashcan. Under the basic scientific principals which govern pressure, abasic explanation can be given. When a bag of garbage is resting in atrash can, the pressure in the enclosed area between the outside of thebag and the inside of the trash can is generally the ambient pressure.Ambient pressure is also acting on the outside of the garbage can, aswell as just about everything else in the room, house and neighborhood.As the garbage bag is being pulled out of the trash can, there remainsan enclosed space sealed by the outside of the garbage bag and the innerwalls of the trash can. When the bag is being lifted out, the volumedefined by the seal between the bag and the trash can increases.However, conservation principles provide that although the volume isincreasing, no mass is being introduced and, therefore, the pressureinside the increasing volume will decrease. It is this decreasingpressure on the inside of the trash can that creates the vacuum. Theonly remedy to revert this vacuum pressure (i.e., pressure lower thanambient), is to either add mass such as air or any other substance tofill the space or to lower the garbage bag to return the pressure spaceback to its original volume.

Attempts have been made to address this problem, however, few haveperformed adequately. Some trash cans have been developed which haverigid ventilation structures in the corners of the trash can which allowfor air to pass through. These trash cans, however, are limited by theirsize and color depending on the manufacturer's selection. Furthermore,these trash cans are also limited by their shape, whereas no cornersexist in round trash cans.

Another attempt at correcting this problem can be found in trash canswhich have built-in chambers or lips on the inside surface. Again, thesetrash cans are limited to their specific structure and add additionalcost to the consumer by the increased difficulty in manufacturing. Infact, it is almost impossible and completely uneconomical to injectionmold such features into a trash can. Therefore there is a desire in themarket for the ability to overcome the problem with the vacuum sealwhile allowing the consumer the ability to choose and select any design,color or manufacture of trash receptacle or container and utilizing aninexpensive kit made from corrugated polyethylene or plastic which whenadded to the trash can provides release of the above noted seal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a need in the art for a kit for modifying a common trash can toovercome the previously discussed problems. The present invention isdirected at further solutions to address this need.

One object of the present invention is to provide a kit for modifying atrash can or refuse container to alleviate the suction caused by theoutward force of contained rubbish causing the plastic bag liner to sealagainst the inner wall of the trash receptacle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sleeve whichdoes not significantly alter the inside dimensions of the receptacle sothat the amount of rubbish, which can be stored in the container, is noteffected by application of the kit.

Yet still further object of the invention is to produce an inexpensivekit which can be easily modified in length and width and adhered orattached to any desired inside surface of the receptacle.

Yet another important aspect of the present invention is to enablesufficient air-flow through the sleeve to facilitate removal of theliner from the trash receptacle and minimize the potential of punctureof the liner during removal from the trash receptacle.

The present invention also relates to a kit for modifying a trashreceptacle to facilitate the extraction of a trash can liner from thetrash receptacle, the kit comprising a sleeve having a top surface and abottom surface and a plurality of dividers extending substantiallyperpendicular to and between the top and bottom surfaces, the sleevehaving at least a passageway defined by the plurality of dividers and aportion of the top and bottom surfaces, the passageway having a firstopening at a first end of the sleeve communicating with a second openingat a second end of the sleeve; and at least an adhesive strip capable ofretaining and supporting the sleeve against an inner sidewall of thetrash receptacle.

The present invention also relates to a method for modifying a trashreceptacle to facilitate the extraction of a trash can liner from thetrash receptacle comprising the steps of forming a sleeve having a topsurface and a bottom surface and a plurality of dividers extendingsubstantially perpendicular to and between the top and bottom surfaces;defining at least a passageway in the sleeve between the plurality ofdividers and portions of the top and bottom surfaces, the passagewayhaving a first opening at a first end of the sleeve communicating with asecond opening at a second end of the sleeve; and applying an adhesiveto the bottom surface of the sleeve, and aligning one of the first andsecond ends of the sleeve adjacent an inner bottom of the trashreceptacle and the other of the first or second end adjacent an innerrim of the trash receptacle and affixing the sleeve via the adhesive toan inner sidewall of the trash receptacle to provide at least an airflow passage between the inner rim and inner bottom of the trashreceptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is side perspective view of the ventilation sleeve for the kit inone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial front-elevational view of the ventilation sleeve forthe kit in one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the ventilation sleeve withperforations for the kit in one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a trash can with the kit in oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a top cross-sectional view of a substantially rectangulartrash can with the kit in one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5B is a top cross-sectional view of a substantially round trash canwith the kit in one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a ventilating sleeve 3 with adhesive strips 4 whichmake up at least a portion of the kit for modifying a trash can orrefuse container in accordance with the present invention. The sleeve 3has an axis A defined along the longitudinal length L of the sleeve 3and a lateral width W perpendicular thereto. The sleeve 3 has asubstantially planar top surface 5 and a parallel aligned substantiallyplanar bottom surface 7. The top and bottom surfaces 5, 7 each have arespective inner side 9 facing one another and a plurality of spacedapart inner webs 11 extend between the inner sides 9 to maintain the topand bottom surfaces 5, 7 spaced a desired distance from one another. Forthe applications as described below, the top and bottom surfaces aregenerally spaced in the range of about 1-20 mm and preferably in therange of about 4-10 mm apart.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner webs 11 extend substantiallyperpendicularly between the inner side 9 of the top and bottom surfaces5, 7 axially parallel to one another and the axis A as defined by thelength of the sleeve 3. The inner webs 11 have a length generallycorresponding to the overall length of the sleeve, a height t definingthe spacing between the top and bottom surfaces 5, 7. The adjacent websdefine a plurality of axial ventilation passageways 15 extendingparallel to the central axis A from a first end 17 to a second end 19 ofthe main sleeve 3. The ventilation passageways 15 are thus definedhaving opposing sides formed by the immediately adjacent inner webs 11and a top wall and bottom wall, respectively, defined by respectiveportions of the top and bottom surfaces 5, 7 of the sleeve 3 itself.

These ventilation passageways 15 define a plurality of adjacent throughbores, having the height t being in the range of about 1/16th to ¼ of aninch thick. The webs 11 may be spaced apart a similar distance, i.e.,about 1/16th to ¼ of an inch, but may also be a bit spaced farther apartin the range of 1/16 to ½ of an inch, if desired. These dimensionsaccordingly define a substantially box, square or rectangular profile toeach of the ventilation passageways 15. Other shapes or profiles to theventilation passageways 15 may also be defined. For example, as seen inFIG. 2, each web 11 may be provided with a longitudinal crease 21running the length of the web 11 between the first and second end 17, 19of the sleeve 3 to effect a substantially parallelepiped profile to thepassageways 15. This longitudinal crease 21 is important as it permits acertain degree of flexibility and compressibility to the individualpassageways 15 and the sleeve 3 itself where the creased webs act as asort of spring. In this embodiment, each crease 21 divides a first wallportion 23 and a second wall portion 25 on either side of the crease orbend 21. The first and second wall portions 23, 25 are conjoined at thecrease 21 and extend therefrom to contact and support either the top orbottom surface 5, 7 of the sleeve 3.

Where the crease forms, a generally obtuse angle 27 between the firstand second wall portion 23, 25, a certain spring bias or amount ofcompressibility will be accorded to the web 11. In other words, theobtuse angle 27 affords a slight spring bias to the web 11 when the web11 is compressed such that when a force acts on the top or bottomsurface 5, 7 of the sleeve 3, a web or webs 11, in the general vicinityof the force will allow the top or bottom surface 5, 7 to be slightlydisplaced towards one another. The slightly bent web 11 is permitted tobend or be compressed about the crease 21, but because it maintains acertain spring bias, the creased web 11 will push outward against theforce and the top and bottom surfaces 5, 7 will be moved away from oneanother when the force is removed. As can be appreciated, this permitsthe top surface and bottom surface 5, 7 to be compressed and broughtcloser to one another depending on the pressure or force applied to thisextent and to return to a neutral position once the pressure is removed.

The creased web 11 is provided with enough spring bias to resist andrebound from even a complete collapse where pressure forces the firstand second wall portions 23, 25 into planar relationship effectivelycollapsing the ventilation passageway 15. The webs 11, as well as thetop and bottom surfaces 5, 7, may be made of any material, butpreferably a semi-rigid plastic, such as polyethylene or polystyrene.This means that even where a substantial amount of refuse is packed intoa trash receptacle and the compacted trash causes extreme pressure onthe sleeve 3, the ventilation passageways 15 will resist collapse andeven if compressed to some extent will maintain the ventilationpassageway 15 to permit air-flow therethrough, and also rebound to theiroriginal size once pressure from the compacted trash is removed.

The outer side of the bottom surface 7 is provided with an adhesiveelement. The adhesive element could be any known type of adhesivecoating, tape or strip 4 sufficient to support the weight of the sleeve3 against a plastic or metal inner wall of the trash receptacle 35. Theadhesive 4 may be directly applied to the bottom surface 7 of the sleeve3 and may have a removable backing 6 to protect the adhesive 4 that willbe applied to the inner wall of the container or receptacle 35. Inanother aspect of the kit, the adhesive element may also be providedentirely separate from the sleeve 3 so that it may be applied to thesleeve 3 at any desired location to facilitate securing of the sleeve 3to the inner wall of the container or receptacle 35.

It is to be appreciated that the sleeve 3 may be provided with as manyventilation passageways 15, i.e., throughbores, as desired to facilitatean adequate passage of air therethrough to release the plastic liner.The kit may contain any number of sleeves of any similar or differentlengths between the first end 17 and the second end 19 so as to fit anynumber of different receptacles 35 having different depths.

As seen in FIG. 3, the sleeve 3 may even be provided with lateral andlongitudinal perforations 33, 31 to facilitate the division of thesleeve 3 into separate pieces or to shorten them to fit within a desiredcontainer or receptacle 35. The top and bottom surfaces 5, 7 are in thiscase provided with a series of opposing perforations generally runningat least the length and potentially the width W of the sleeve. Thelengthways or longitudinal perforations 31 are generally formed in thetop and bottom walls of the ventilation passageways 15 parallel to axisA so that a user can readily separate a portion of the sleeve 3 into atleast two and, potentially more pieces, depending on the number ofperforations formed in the sleeve 3. Because the lengthways orlongitudinal perforations 31 are formed in the middle of the ventilationpassageways 15, the sleeve 3 is easily split between webs 11. With thewidth ways or lateral perforations 33 there is the further difficulty inthat the webs 11 may not be as easily separated across the width of thesleeve 3. However, with appropriate manufacturing techniques,perforations may also be placed in the webs 11 to facilitate such widthways separation as well.

Upon opening the kit having any number of main sleeves 3 with theappropriate adhesive 4 therein, we will assume, for example's sake, thatthe adhesive 4 is applied directly to the outer wall of the bottomsurface 7 of the sleeve 3, the user removes the removable backing 6 fromthe adhesive 4 on the bottom surface 7 of the sleeve 3 and addresses thetrash receptacle 35. Ensuring that the sleeve 3 is directed straight upand down, i.e., axially relative to the trash receptacle 35 so that theventilation passageways 15 extend from a position relatively adjacentthe rim 37 of the container or receptacle 35 to a point substantiallyadjacent the inner bottom 39 of the container or receptacle 35. The userthan applies the sleeve 3 to the inner sidewall 41 of the container orreceptacle 35 and firmly presses the adhesive 4 on the bottom surface 7of the main sleeve 3 against the inner sidewall 41 of the container 35so that the adhesive 4 securely holds the sleeve 3 thereto.

Examples of different applications of the kit with different trashreceptacles are shown in FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B. It is to be appreciatedthat a sleeve may be made from easily obtainable corrugated plastic orpolyethylene in an appropriate length and width and having the abovedescribed perforations formed therein. Further, the adhesive may becoated onto one side of the corrugated plastic by spray application,contact paper or other known method. In a preferred embodiment, contactpaper is modified to adhere to one side of the sleeve by applying asecond adhesive to the face of the contact paper, applying the adhesivecovered face to the sleeve so that a user need only remove the contactpaper backing to reveal the original contact paper adhesive forapplication to the inside of the container. In another modification, astring or release strip may be placed between the contact paper backingand the original contact paper adhesive to facilitate separation andrelease of the backing merely by pulling the string or release strip.

A trash can liner may now be inserted into the container 35 and filledwith refuse, goods, trash, etc. When a user desires to withdraw thetrash bag, the cinching of the open neck of the trash bag reveals thetop openings of the passageways 15 and permits direct communication ofthese openings in the first end 17 of the sleeve 3 directly with theatmosphere so that air-flow can pass down through them and out thebottom to eliminate the suction of a full trash bag pressing against thesides and bottom of the trash container 35. Thus, air is allowed tofreely pass between the outer surface of the plastic liner and the innerwall of the container 35 such that there is no suction developed betweenthe bottom of the trash bag and the bottom of the container orreceptacle 35 and the plastic liner is fairly easily removabletherefrom.

Since certain changes may be made in the above described improvement,without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention hereininvolved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedmerely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shallnot be construed as limiting the invention.

1. A kit for modifying a trash receptacle (35) to facilitate theextraction of a trash can liner from the trash receptacle (35), the kitcomprising: a sleeve (3) having a top surface (5) and a bottom surface(7) and a plurality of dividers extending substantially perpendicular toand between the top and bottom surfaces (5, 7), the sleeve (3) having atleast a passageway (15) defined by the plurality of dividers and aportion of the top and bottom surfaces (5, 7), the passageway (15)having a first opening at a first end (17) of the sleeve (3)communicating with a second opening at a second end (19) of the sleeve(3); and at least an adhesive strip capable of retaining and supportingthe sleeve (3) against an inner sidewall (9) of the trash receptacle(35).
 2. The kit for modifying a trash receptacle (35) to facilitate theextraction of a trash can liner from the trash receptacle (35) as setforth in claim 1, wherein each divider further comprises one of alongitudinal crease and a bend (21) extending between the first openingand the second opening of the passageway (15) to facilitatecompressibility of the top and bottom surfaces (5, 7) relative to oneanother.
 3. The kit for modifying a trash receptacle (35) to facilitatethe extraction of a trash can liner from the trash receptacle (35) asset forth in claim 1, wherein the top and bottom surface (5, 7) areprovided with a plurality of perforations (31, 33) to separate thesleeve (3) into at least two separate pieces comprising a plurality ofdividers and at least one passageway (15).
 4. A method for modifying atrash receptacle (35) to facilitate the extraction of a trash can linerfrom the trash receptacle (35) comprising the steps of: forming a sleeve(3) having a top surface (5) and a bottom surface (7) and a plurality ofdividers extending substantially perpendicular to and between the topand bottom surfaces (5, 7); defining at least a passageway (15) in thesleeve (3) between the plurality of dividers and portions of the top andbottom surfaces (5, 7), the passageway (15) having a first opening at afirst end (17) of the sleeve (3) communicating with a second opening ata second end (19) of the sleeve (3); and applying an adhesive (4) to thebottom surface (7) of the sleeve (3); and aligning one of the first andsecond ends (17, 19) of the sleeve (3) adjacent an inner bottom of thetrash receptacle (35), and the other of the first or second end (17, 19)adjacent an inner rim of the trash receptacle (35), and affixing thesleeve (3) via the adhesive (4) to an inner sidewall of the trashreceptacle to provide at least an air flow passage (15) between theinner rim and inner bottom of the trash receptacle (35).
 5. The methodfor modifying a trash receptacle (35) to facilitate the extraction of atrash can liner from the trash receptacle (35) as set forth in claim 4further comprising the step of forming one of the longitudinal creaseand the bend (21) in each divider, the crease or bend (21) extendingbetween the first opening and the second opening of the passageway (15)to facilitate compressibility of the top and bottom surfaces (5, 7)relative to one another.
 6. The method for modifying a trash receptacle(35) to facilitate the extraction of a trash can liner from the trashreceptacle (35) as set forth in claim 4 further comprising the step ofcutting the plurality of perforations (31, 33) in the top and bottomsurface (5, 7) of the sleeve (3) to separate the sleeve (3) into atleast two separate pieces comprising a plurality of dividers and atleast one passageway (15).